001high. From a local perspective, as you will see in the letter board that I shared with you, we are on solid ground as we have ever been. Leading up to the funding cycle, we identified shortcomings in our state's low wealth fund and shared this concern with our county commissioners. They responded, demonstrating that they would not let our schools hang in limbo. This year's 6% increase is a lifeline of funding for our schools and one in which we are forever grateful. Please join me in a round of applause for a token of our appreciation for the McDow County Commissioners [Applause] board. Just as I do every year, I will pin a letter to them uh this week and send that up there to them. I did just receive the letter that you have in your packet
002uh this past week. So, I will I will return thanks on behalf of the board uh to our county commissioners. And I think the you you all would agree that was that was significant. This evening, I'm also happy to report that all of our administrative positions have been filled and we're gaining steam on many of our summer projects. Today's tour of Old Ford Elementary School marked a significant milestone signifying the school is fully ready to open. Mr. Marsh has an announcement. I'm not going to steal his thunder that he'll be sharing with us earlier in just a few minutes about that. July also marks the halfway point of our summer break and we will have more uh meetings in August before our students return in 2025. Although it's a halfway point and we're starting into
003a new year. The topics around tonight stem around a new school year, but I'm happy to report that our students sitting on the front row and in the back back there uh are still getting accolades from last year. I'm happy to report in that that we have members here tonight of our softball and baseball teams who have earned some state level recognition. Finally, this evening, I would like to ask our community and friends to keep our students and staff in your thoughts and prayers, especially those left reeling from a tragic car accident resulting in the life lost of Brian Korn, a student at McDow Early College. Our prayers are with the Korn family this evening. Folks, thank you for allowing me to speak this evening. Sir, if you would continue the student decision, >> Mr.
004Chairman, members of the board, Dr. Grit, ladies and gentlemen, it's an absolute pleasure to stand in front of you tonight. I'll take a little cart blanch first to start off with something I was talking with Coach Smith about. Um, and that is that today we had a member of the Western Carolina University baseball team, former McDow Titan Dusty Revvice, selected in the second round by Seattle Mariners. So, pretty cool event for one of our Titans. With that being said, like to ask Coach Smith, Coach Young, and Coach Garden, please come on up front. Uh, I am I'm bringing Coach Young up here with Coach Garden. Coach Garden is our new uh lady softball coach at McDall High School. Very happy to have her. But I also wanted to bring Coach Young up with her. Come
005on, Coach Smith. And uh and with them, I'm going to ask a couple very special young people to come up and stand alongside of them for some all state selection recognition. Ladies and gentlemen, this is this is incredible. A group of five uh not just really good athletes, but good young people. And so without any further ado, I ask uh Jacob Davis to come on up. this Leila Presnel, Addie Stton, Miranda Wall, and Sage Young. Ladies and gentlemen, these uh five young people are all selected to the all-state category in their position and for uh softball and for baseball here in the state of North Carolina. Let's give them a round of applause. Thank you. Next up, we have Miss Amy Dattle. She'll be talking about our teacher of the year. >> Thank you, Dr.
006Grit, members of the board, and our esteemed guest. I would also like to just throw it out there that I was Dusty Revis's elementary principal in fifth and sixth grade. So, for whatever that's worth, there you go. It is with great pride that we introduce to you McDow Countyy's 2025 teacher of the year, Miss Amber Lowing. A dedicated educator whose passion, joy, and unwavering commitment for her students make her truly exceptional. Miss Lowing is more than a skilled mathematics teacher. She is a cultivator of connection and joy in the classroom. In seeing Miss Lawing's interaction with her students, it is clear that she has a heart of a teacher, building meaningful relationships, both spar that spark both academic and personal growth. I can speak to this not only professionally but personally, as my children have
007been honored to be in Miss Loen's class. In her own words, creating ne meaning meaningful connections with students sometimes means embracing moments of joy and silliness while still maintaining educational excellence. This balance is what makes Miss Lawing a standout educator. One whose classroom is a place where students feel seen, celebrated, and inspired to learn. Dr. Grit summed it up best. Miss Loing has what it takes to make an impact not only on our students and he believes she is among the best in our state, keep the important work while we step aside and watch her lead on behalf of Mcdow County Schools. We are honored to have Miss Lowing represent McDow County Schools and we would look forward to the leadership and inspiration she will bring as teacher of the year. Her strong relationships with
008students are built on a foundation of trust, empathy, and high expectations. She takes time to understand each child's unique strengths, challenges, and background, fostering a sense of belonging and confidence in her classroom. Miss Lowing's deep compassion and commitment to student well-being are evident in the way she listens, encourage, and supports each learner. Through consistent care and intentional connections, she creates a classroom culture where students feel safe, valued, and inspired to reach their full potentials. Ladies and gentle gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Miss Amber Lowing to sit as McDow County Teacher of the Year. [Applause] Item number nine on the agenda is request address the board public comment. And uh we do have two uh members here tonight that would like to address a board. They are Gracie Hendricks and Sarah Cassan. So if you
009would come on up to the podium to start off with and and I need to advise you a few things. Okay. I'm going to kind of give you a few ground rules and uh then which is not customary. I'm going to let Dr. Grit speak a little to you just a sec and then then you can start. Of course, our crime keepers, Miss Dav. Okay. And uh public comment is a time for the board to hear from folks regarding issues related to the McDow County School District. We ask that folks be mindful that we encourage families of small children to attend our meetings and watch our meetings online. We respect the right of speakers to give us their viewpoint on any issues related to the schools. However, we do balance those rights with the rights
010of families of young children when it comes to public comment. We ask that speakers make their points without making explicit comment. It is not appropriate or permissible for teachers in our schools to read explicit material to young children and doing so in public comment is not appropriate either. In addition to public comment, the public is welcome to send the board emails through the superintendent and at this time uh you got three minutes unless you want to combine your things and you got a five minute. >> But uh what I want to do is Dr. go over something real quick with you and then uh Miss Hendricks, I think this go. >> Yes, sir. >> Folks, I I read the reasoning for the uh comment tonight and we've got some folks in the here with us
011and that are that are here on behalf of that reasoning and I want to let you know that your voices have been heard. Um it is important to know that when it comes to uh homeschool students participating in athletics, we take that very seriously. Um we also must follow uh closely the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's guidelines. Uh we had a young man uh come to our policy committee meeting, Mr. Waycaster. I I don't see him. There he is. He's in the back of the room. and he brought something to our attention uh and asked that we consider amending our policy on it. Uh so you will find tonight that we board and you all have seen the policy. Uh we have asked for an amendment to be made to that policy. One of
012the things that that we could amend there's there's only a handful of things that we could do. One of the things that we were recommending uh be amended uh was the was the piece of the policy that required the student to remain on campus. Uh so not necessarily the number of classes uh for being dy enrolled. So in other words, board you can be a homeschool student and participate in Mcdow County Schools athletics or extracurriculars. The verbiage in the policy requires that you take at least a half a day worth of of class. And at our high school, that's two two class periods. In order to do that, uh that that would be four classes over the course of a year. Uh so that is one of the things that the policy is very clear
013on. Uh it's also in line with the policy from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. The High School Athletic Association recently dropped their portion of this rule to include students not having to attend in person. So those could be online or potentially a virtual virtual option. U Mr. Waycastaster brought that to our committee's attention attention. He did an exceptional job presenting that to our curriculum committee and um our curriculum committee after discussion decided to uh consider an amendment for the policy and board tonight before you you have a revised version of that. Now for the folks out there who may not understand what how we do that policies are are given three reads. First, they're read in our policy committee. And then tonight, Miss Data will have uh she will bring all of our
014policies before you. May I borrow your book? This is not the entire policy book, but these are the policies that are that we've looked at uh over the past couple months, and these are the policies that are set to be amended. So, you can see it's quite an extensive amount of work. Um but but the goal is to uh to have those as first read tonight and then there will be a final reading of those policies uh in August. Um where it will be my recommendation to the board uh that we honor uh the the ruling as it was as it was provided now by the high school athletic association which uh remains that you have to take the classes but you're not have you do not have to be in attendance at the school.
015So, I just wanted to share that with you. Know we have several folks from the homeschool uh groups with us tonight, and I felt like it would just be a good opportunity to kind of clear the air. Um, and I will say that, you know, if you called our schools and you asked them that, they're going to tell you the what the policy says because it hasn't been changed. Um, so that's one of the reasons that it's important. Um, and they're doing what I asked them to do, which is follow the policy. um you know until the board's had an opportunity to review it and then of course make amendments. But I I just wanted to kind of clear the air a little bit there. And Mr. Frank, I appreciate you giving me the opportunity
016to speak, sir. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. And at this time, I will entertain a motion uh to allow these two young ladies to speak. area. >> Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Schuford and a second by Mr. Abernathy to allow these folks to speak. With that motion being made, is there any further discussion concerning them speaking to us? Okay. At this time, all those in favor signify by raising your right hand. And Miss Helms and Mr. Subtles, could you tell me how you vote? >> Are they on there? >> Yes. >> Okay. What about Mr. Subtles? >> Okay. Uh, did she explain the time? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. You're free to speak now. >> All right. First, I'd like to take the time to say thank you for letting me speak today.
017I very much so appreciate it. Um, hi, my name is Gracie Hendricks. I am homeschooled at Grace Academy and full-time dual enrolled at McDow Tech. I also play tennis for McDow High School. I'm currently um going into my senior year and this will be my fourth and final unfortunate playing um year playing tennis for the high school. I've very much so enjoyed it. Um the rules for homeschooled students have changed every year I've played and they all have only gotten more strict up until this um motion. The past year I had to take one inerson class as well as one online on top of my 12 credit hours of McDow Techch classes while also having a part-time job and doing that all at the same time. My 10th grade year I had to take two
018online classes. In my nth grade year, I wasn't enrolled in McDow High School at all because I wasn't aware of the policy regarding that. Um, taking classes through the high school has been timeconuming on top of all of my other classes and obligations. I feel like it is an unnecessary hurdle that requires me to um take classes that are irrelevant to my education plan and career path. Another major problem with having to take classes through the high school is that it strips away the parents rights to choose how and what to teach their children. This is especially a concern when you take into consideration that a lot of homeschools are created because their beliefs don't align with that of the public schools. The 14th amendment gives the parents a right to choose the direction of
019the education for their children by requiring classes through the high school. This contradicts that right. According to the general assembly on North Carolina Senate Bill 48, the school is entitled to set requirements, but as I previously said, the current requirements don't align with the 14th amendment. My proposition is that classes, both online and in person, should not be required. The student would have to be a resident of McDow County and enrolled in a licensed home school or private school. The student must also meet the same academic requirement as mandated by the NCHSSA. My understanding is that the requirement to take classes is left up to you whether those are online or in person. I'm asking that you please consider the values of the rights of homeschooling. I would also like to add that on the
020way here my mother brought up to the fact that um the online classes that we are offered is through Edmondum and those are very limited options and in the past years that I've taken them they have not grown and so many of them are irrelevant to my career path of nursing and so it doesn't necessarily do me any good to take those classes. Um, so with your motion to make the two online, I would also like to add that it would be amazing if we could expand those options. Thank you for letting me speak. I'm not good at this. Okay. So, um, I just wanted to come up here and talk about the fact that my son did play sports. He did three classes. >> Would you introduce yourself, please? >> Sorry. I'm Sarah Croissant
021and, um, I homeschool four children. Um my middle son has played sports all through um middle school. He didn't attend any classes for that. And I really think that the fact that we are putting the high school rules on the middle school is really more or less for funding and not educational purposes. But um anyway um my son did attend at the beginning um of last year. Nobody seemed to know what what was going on. And I was he was told he needed to attend three classes. He attended three classes both semesters. Um when I went and sat down and had those classes scheduled and then he went to the open house, everything had changed. He even went to a class second semester for three weeks before he was pulled out of it and put
022in a different class. It was really just poorly managed by the faculty at the high school. And so, um, I I'm grateful for the opportunity that my kids get to play, but I do feel like expecting homeschool kids with everything that they have going on to to do three classes, whether online or in person in the middle school is because of a high school rule is is a lot. I mean, you know, um, that's never been the way it was before. And, um, I I'm just I'm just a little bit upset about that. I understand the high school um but putting these I mean that's that's a large majority of a kid's day three classes. Thank you for letting me say that. >> This is and uh Miss Hendris, I appreciate you taking the time
023to come. I uh want to reiterate that if you would stay in touch with our superintendent, Dr. agit that he will let you know the outcomes of everything and we'll go from there. Okay. >> Could I do a clarification >> please? >> Uh this is to the superintendent. Could you explain that these policies that we have to follow? What is the consequences if we do not follow those? >> Sir, I think that's a great point. It's very valid. Um we are going to follow the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's guidelines. Um they are they have been moved now to be part of Department of Public Instruction. They have not been in the past. So to to so to kind of clarify the as they went through that transition from being a private nonprofit organization
024who oversaw the athletics in North Carolina to now moving under under that the guise of North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. There's been a little um just to be completely honest with you, there's been a little bit of trying to figure this out and navigate it. So, I certainly would agree with you folks and what you mentioned that the rules have kind of felt like they've changed because for us they they've also felt like they've kind of changed. Um but now that we have a solid uh footing on what the expectations are um as well as what we would recommend being uh account having the same accountability uh platform for not only our high schools but to also we're trying to apply those same set of rules uh at the middle school as well. Um
025I think it's I think it's important that we look at it and we try to be consistent. So to answer your question Mr. Barsdale, if we were not in compliance with High School Athletic Association, uh then potentially you could lose a sports team. Um you could lose you could you could face fines or penalties or or anything of that measure. So we we will have to follow those guidelines. I think it's important and we owe it to the to the county uh to the community to make sure that we uh we do follow and uphold those guidelines. Great question. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. for a point of clarification. >> Athletics a home school student has to take. >> So there's some you'll notice in the policy when you look at it tonight, uh
026it doesn't say it doesn't specify the number of classes and I'm going to tell you why they do that. It doesn't specify the reason because some high schools are still on a traditional seven class day whereas our high school is on a block schedule meaning we have four classes per day. So what the language says is the student must be in attendance not in attendance but taking basically half the school days worth of classes. So at our high school, Mr. Abernathy, that's a great point of clarification. At our high school, that's two classes per semester. Those that's two classes first semester, two classes the second semester. That's half the day. At our middle schools, they take six classes and they're year-long classes. So, they they will take three classes um the entire school year because
027at the middle school, keep in mind, those are those are year-long classes. So, we've got to be careful with the language. And you'll notice that I left that language alone in the policy and I used the language that came from the high school athletic association. Uh so it would be very clear on what we would need to do there. >> Yes sir. Yes sir. >> Yes sir. All right. And there again, I encourage you to stay in contact with Dr. Thank you very much. We aren't allowed to go into detail with convers. Okay. So, item number 10, unfinished business. >> Okay. Next up under unfinished business, we have Miss Rampy. She'll be giving us a finance update. Good evening. We have just a quick update today. The first thing I wanted to go over was
028the letter that you got a copy of from the county commissioners. Just to explain that a little more in detail. Uh when you're seeing the four line items there, I'm actually going to start from the bottom. The capital of $54,800, that's a recurring amount. we get that same amount every single year. So, uh that is not part of the increase that we received. So, the capital would stay the same. The 336,000 is part of our regular current expense, but they do split that out separately. That was uh part of the initiative for us to increase our supplements years ago. And so, that is still earmarked in their current expense for us. But that amount was also does not change. The two amounts that change that make up the $600,000 increase are the low wealth funding
029offset of $300,000 and then the increase in current expense. Last year we received 9.9 million in that line item and now it is going up to $10.2 million. So the $600,000 that we received for those two line items uh is where they're getting the 6% increase. Any questions on that? There were I believe there was one year in the last 19 years that I've been here that it was even close, but I believe this may be the highest increase. So no not 19 not 19 not 19 not 19 not 19 not 19 not 19 not 19 not 19 not 19 not in within the 19 years I think you may have been I'm not sure you may have been the county manager then uh but we do appreciate it that is significantly helped us offset
030this decrease in loww wealth funding that we've received and so it helped us keep several positions >> not not only this year Mr. Aani I think you made a very valid point but that was 3% last year and an additional 6% this year to really help offset We have we have a great relationship with the county commissioners and we're really appreciative of the help for this year. The other update I wanted to give you is uh with just finishing the year is where we stand with our hurricane uh funding and our expenses. We've spent about $3.6 million so far u through June 30th on our efforts and we've received about 2.8 million. We're expecting about 700 to $750,000 more in funding uh reimbursement from both insurance and FEMA. Um but of that obviously the majority
031of that was old for elementary. Uh just built for has been about $3.2 million of that $3.6 million. So we do expect to be reimbursed uh either reimbured or receive funding from FEMA for all of our expenses. We do hope to be uh funding neutral for those expenses to be able to get us back to where we were. And then also uh we do have the uh two projects that the state is approved as well as far as at the PG school and then some uh facilities updates at west and the high school. But we are in good shape with our Helen funding and FEMA funding. We have a good good rep there that's helping us with that reimbursement and I do think that we should be within the next three to four months uh
032funding neutral there. Any questions on the Helen funding? Okay, Mr. Marsh will be giving us a facilities update. And we also have uh board, if you'll notice, there's a request for capital projects there. Uh in your packet, you should have some information. Uh it should be the very first thing that you see in your packet. Uh you should have a quote from a local contracting for air conditioning, heating and air conditioning units. Mr. Marsh. Thank you, sir. >> U thank Mr. Superintendent and Mr. Chair, members of the board. If we can, sir, we'll just go ahead and start with that. >> Uh tonight, I come before the board and request an additional $100,000 be added to the previously approved capital HVAC project of a 150. Um the reason is as we as Dr. Grit pointed
033out and as I have been working with Mr. Barkstdale through building the ground is that we are encountering a very large number of HVAC systems in our 22 facilities that require attention and in some cases it's immediate. Um we have just this last week dealt with the three primary movers of water source for the unit at uh Eastfield Global Magnet School which is the board had already approved the the tower. We had to rebuild the pump and the chiller just let loose last week. So those are the three primary aspects of that system and we expect to see that continue as we move through this. We rebuilding a pump as we speak at the high school. So uh these are vital systems that you know do everything from uh keep our folks cool but they
034also keep our systems cool and our and our system uh and our in our in our entire uh conditioned area inside the school system. So it's vital. So, uh, with that being said, sir, I'd like like request for board action tonight on the request for $100,000 additional capital on that project. >> I'd like to make a motion on that if that's all right with the chair. I make a motion to increase the current HBAC capital project by 100,000 from the 150 to 250,000 to 250 to address the current HB second. Okay, we have a motion to uh to appropriate additional $100,000 in capital with a total of $250,000. Is that correct, Mr. Barksdale? >> Yes, sir. >> Was it 250 even or were there some additional >> 250? Okay. All right, we have a motion
035by Mr. Barkstdale and there again a second by Mr. Allison. Is there any further discussion concerning uh this motion on the capital project HBAC? Go ahead Board. I understand that uh I just want to be real clear in this. You'll notice that the the amount uh in that and I think uh Mr. Marsh explained that is $60,814. But given the given the history of what we've been dealing with, that's why when Mr. Marsh asked me about that, I said it might be a good idea to go ahead and request a little bit more uh just in case we get into another scenario where we where that doesn't cover everything and we end up in another HVAC project before the next board meeting. I felt like it's critical right now uh to get our HVAC systems
036up and running before the school year starts. Uh so that is the reason that he's not asking for an exact dollar amount based on this quote, but to be able to extend it just a little more in case we have uh something that comes up between now and August that we wouldn't have to call an emergency board meeting and bring you guys back in. Of course, if we don't end up using that, we'll report that back to the board what the total was for that uh for the amount that we used. >> Yes, sir. >> I don't see that happening, but Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Do I have any comment from Mr. Subtles or Mrs. H? >> No. >> Mr. Subtles. All right. Okay. Discussion. Is there any further discussion from the
037board? Okay. At this time, I ask all those in favor of the action request signify by raising your right hand. Okay, >> wait just a minute. >> Okay, thank you for your work on that. We're good on that. So, you can go ahead. >> Thank you, sir. Um, ladies and gentlemen, this is my monthly update for my director at transportation continues to work with uh our bus allocation for summer programs, conducting parts inventories, performing bus inspections and repairs. Uh, Mr. Barry Hill and his staff have been testing the new temperature sensors that we have ordered for our freezers and coolers and initial testing has been promising with students out of the buildings. They're moving forward with the migration the remaining schools to our subnets uh which will significantly improve our network speed, reliability, and security
038across our district and they're finalizing the process of the organizing the Chromebooks that were returned by students and preparing for the refresh roll out for the next school year. Child nutrition, Mr. Dr. Haynes and his staff. The summer meal programs are underway. They will remain uh underway until the 15th of August. There are 10 sites throughout the district where we use as feeding sites. Uh we have production kitchens at East McDow and West McDow. We have staffing of approximately 12 employees and five delivery vans. The breakfast and lunch is offered at no cost to youth ages 18 and under uh with except early Head Start which follows a separate set of guidelines. uh and events uh served this summer. Uh summer school, read to achieve, camp invention, football camp, band, early head start, YMCA camps,
039summerbridge, DOT camp, camp opportunity, camp Inferno, and K12. They've been very busy. We appreciate all their hard work with athletics. Proud to report that we have a new sound system installed and inside the gymnasium, McDow High School. It sounds absolutely wonderful. We're very happy to get that modernized. um been working closely with our principles and athletic directors for field coaching vacancies which I mentioned coach Gordon proud to have her uh with qualified candidates and I will be meeting I will personally meet with ads and fall coaches for both the middle school and the high school prior to the seasons kicking off here for fall ball to outlay our expectations and to discuss any questions they may have. again, auxiliary services. I'm just thrilled, as I mentioned earlier today, uh to have Mr. Jeff Bone. Uh
040he has truly uh in a in a sailor's turn hit the deck running. Very happy with his effort. We're finalizing the conversion at West McDow to create the self-contained EC classroom. Uh we're on track there to have that open prior to the beginning of school. We continue to work with FEMA, as Mrs. Rampy mentioned, and local contractors to remove debris. Army Corps of Engineers is removing debris as we speak in North Cove, as well as making repairs to areas that were damaged during Helen, specifically fencing projects that we're working to get reimbursement through our insurance agent. Also, uh the summer painting and flooring cleaning programs are ongoing and the schools are looking refreshed and getting closer to ready to receive those babies. Pleasant Gardens Elementary PG is back to being a school of one and
041the work to remediate the school is well underway. We're working with contractors to complete projects that are all going to be part of the million-dollar grant that we were awarded this past uh spring, which include paving and striping the existing parking lots, performing drainage remediation, and making necessary repairs, cleaning the interior of the school, painting the interior of the school, and installing new LBT flooring in areas that were damaged. And so, we're going to give um this school there, Mr. Shuford's group a fresh start as they roll back in and we're happy to do so. Old for elementary a thorough walk through was completed as I reported to the board on Tuesday the 20th of May by McDow County schools personnel principal ward and bill for representative. The result of that meeting was a ninepage
042comprehensive list uh that required remediation. Bill four after some discussion accepted the items that were on the list and have been working to resolve each of them. Uh and so they've been working to try to get us ready to go. Uh since McDow County Schools has received a certificate of completion for all items that were previously open from McDow County Building Inspector, Mr. J. Subtles. Uh and this comes after I asked Mr. Vaughn to check with him to ensure that uh he's he concurred with my assessment of the school being safe and nearly ready for occupancy. D County Schools also received an inspection report from North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services stating that the cafeteria uh the kitchen for the cafeteria at Oldford Elementary School is cleared to open. Remediation uh continues. However,
043HVAC is complete and as I reported previously, an air quality inspection has been and performed and the air has been deemed safe for humans and animals. Uh flooring Belffor has completed the installation of all flooring throughout the school. walls. Bell four and medial county personnel have completed all of the the walls which includes painting casework and cabinetry. Bell four is still working to install several linear feet of backsplash that was damaged or missing during our walk through and that was added to the punch list and they expect that that'll be done within the next couple weeks. We're waiting on the vendor to actually get that to them. Um the doors, there's a few items in there that they need to be finished from a locking perspective there. Uh but all the doors have been hung
044and the equipment is on the doors. Uh Verkco, our furniture distributor has already delivered all of the furniture that was damaged to replaced and they are moving into what they call phase two and that will be to take the equipment from where it has been put together or assembled and move it into the proper location. structurally. I'll remind the board that a instructional inspection was completed uh by an a certified engineer in the building and it was deemed structurally safe for occupancy. The grounds, we've done significant work on the grounds, uh from McDow County Schools Personnel, Army Corps of Engineers, Ashbridge Management, Logistics, uh and Holland and Ham with CVET, Kabell Valley Engineering and Testing, and FEMA. Sediment testing was complete and the results were deemed safe for humans and for animals. Grass has been
045resone and has been cut on several occasions. Playgrounds, sidewalks, the exterior of the building have all been pressure washed. An area of erosion that was identified in the rear of the school near Mil Creek and the adjacent walking track has been remediated to prevent further damage and we are working with FEMA to recover payment. The flag pole in front of the school was damaged during Helen and a new one has been ordered. We coordinated with the city of Marian and appreciate very much everything that we have received back from them and the town of Old Fork. Uh but Marian sent us their street sweeper truck and were very generous to clean the entire parking lot for us at no cost. Uh McDow County schools personnel will work to restripe the parking lots after we complete
046our summer painting programs inside our schools. and McDow County staff will prep a new area on campus there at Old Fort which will include pouring a concrete pad where a new metal building will be placed that will hold the various items that support the custodian in the performance of his groundkeeping duties. Can we please show the video? This I asked Belffor to do and it shows you some pretty graphic before and after pictures of Oldford Ford Elementary. She was inside the gymnasium. She's in the main hallway outside the gym. Again, inside the gymnasium, another hallway by the elevator, the back hallway, front parking lot, just days after folks begin to remediate the mud and dirt. Mr. Mr. Chairman, members of the board, Dr. Grit, I believe the items currently undone at Old For Elementary will
047be completed by contractors and staff very soon and the completion of this work can be supervised by our facilities director, Mr. Jeff Vaughn, his staff, and the staff of Oldford Elementary School. With this in mind and after months of work and thorough inspections, it is my recommendation that beginning tomorrow, 15th July, we return Old for Elementary to its principal, Mrs. Jill Ward, for normal operations. [Applause] Take any questions. Anybody have anybody have any questions? Mr. Subtles, Miss H or Miss Hounds? [Applause] >> No. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> At at this time, we need a quick uh break recess. Uh Dr. Crit would like to talk to some folks here in the presence of the room. So, I'm allow him that opportunity to take a quick break. Mhm. Tell Isaac to
048stick their hand out and grab that tart before it flies off. Everybody doesn't I can't believe it. Hello. Hey. [Applause] There it is. Get it perfect. There's volcano Bay Over there. Volcano Bay. What the All right, Mr. Hughes is up next with alternative schools modification and accountability. And folks, this is under unfinished business. If you'll remember, at our last work session, Mr. Hughes presented a couple of options to you tonight. And he's just back really to answer any questions and remind you which one that we are asking you to approve. >> Yeah, good evening, uh, Dr. Brit. Good evening, board. Uh good to see you all again. Just wanted to reiterate that we're looking at the al alternative schools modified account accountability system and last time I I've explained those but just quick review. Uh
049option A is the typical 8020. Option B is is a little bit different with 20% persistence, 20% achievement and 60% with growth. And option C is figure out your own. And like I said last time, there are very very few that have done that and been successful with it. And so, as we've done in the past, my recommendation to you is to go with option C. And I believe that was Dr. Grit's recommendation as well. So, that's uh what I'm seeking action on tonight or option B. Sorry. >> I was like, wait a minute, sir. I don't think my option something we've never done before. And it's sort of like flying a plane before you build it. No, we're going to go with option B. My bad on that. I recommend option B and that's
050what I'm seeking your approval for tonight. >> Mr. Hughes, option B. Just to remind the board, that is what we did last year. It is what we did last year and it is what we've done prior when we had uh the AECh for four or five years over there until it incorporated into a different school. >> Yes sir. That is my recommendation to the board. >> Okay. We have a recommendation by Mr. Hughes and uh Dr. Grit to go with option B on alternative schools modified accountability. And I'll entertain a motion to uh proceed with that. I recommend we go. >> Okay. We have a motion by Mr. Baker and a second by Mr. Barksdale to accept option B on alternative schools modified accountability. Is there any further discussion on that? >> Miss Helms, anything
051from you? >> No. All those in favor signify by raising your right hand >> which is uh Miss Helms. >> Affirmative. >> Okay. >> Thank you, sir. >> Okay. Under new business now, we've got those policies that we've talked uh quite a bit tonight about. And uh board that is the policies that I handed to several of you uh at Old Fort today just to make sure you had updated. Uh and just want to before we start with that want to thank Miss Helms for her support and pulling the policy committee together and for all those members and the work that y'all done. Uh there this has not been a light amount of policy. So I appreciate all y'all's work and I'm going to turn it over to Miss Dattle to uh tell us about
052our first read. >> Thank you sir. Um to echo Dr. Um, I'd like to thank Miss Helms um for um helping to get our committee together to look through these. Um, I'd also like to um thank uh Mr. McInness. He has some really great questions throughout our policy meeting. Um, that prompted us to contact our attorneys just to get some clarification. Um through that process, we were able to go ahead and get um all of the changes that needed to be made to meet federal mandates um through um the executive order. So, we were able to include that on this first read. And so, um, once we vote or you all vote on these policies to approve, we will have all of our policies, um, that meet, um, all federal and state uh, requirements. So,
053in your packet, and I'll do this very quickly, I have a little reader digest version um, for you. And so, this version just goes through and lists the policies, the name of the policies, and the authoritative source. So if you have um many of these are state law, so you'll have SL beside there. If it is federal law, you'll have what federal law requires that change. Um and it also gives you just a brief description of the change. So that's included in your packet if you want to look at that and reference that. in your notebooks, um you will have um the print out from our attorneys, Campbell and Shatley that explain the changes in the policies and um so our first um the first part in your notebook are simply just the fall or
054the spring update. So anything that was updated in federal law, state law, um any kind of general statute is reflected in those policies. We also have an additional policy on 9115 that is required by state law. We did not previously have that policy at one time. It was an optional policy. So we have added that in as well as any update on there all federal mandate. So that is in the second binder. So this is really great reading material and I encourage you all to sit and study and look. Um, no. But in seriousness, any changes that are made, anything that is red and marked through that are required to make, anything that is in blue is something that is an addition or a change um specifically to the wording of that policy. um the
055policy that we discussed um this evening um as far as athletics which is 3620 we did show the changes in that language um within that policy as well. So um if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out. I will be happy um to seek clarification if I have the answer for you then I'll give you that answer. If not, you know, we we do have a resource um of our school board attorneys who have been a have done a great um job for us in looking through these embedding the changes um that were made. Are there any specific questions for me? >> Just a comment board another area too and we wanted to get ahead of uh House Bill. Can you help me out with that one? >> Yes. 959. >>
056Thank you. uh which has to do with mobile devices. Thank you, Dr. Grit, for bringing that up. Which has to do with mobile devices um within um the schools and um in public schools. And so there was an amendment to House Bill 959 and it specifically states down here that the policy shall prohibit students from using, displaying or having a wireless communication device turned on during instructional time. So uh what we did was take that specific language that was in that amendment and put that in the policy. Um so that is uh very very clear of what the expectation is as far as mobile devices um in the schools. We did get word that there would probably be a fall update to that policy. And so once that runs u that comes out then we
057will work to update that policy. But right now what we did was take the specific language from the amendment um of that house bill and we did infuse that into our current policy. >> Let me reiterate board the language was not very different than what we already had um in our policy. Um but it did specify that the device was to be basically off is what it meant. And it it it also specified uh when when it was appropriate that it was on one of those reasons for uh students who might be checking their I'm pointing to my arm that might be checking their blood sugar with with their uh with their phones and different things like that there. So there were a few reasons why there might be a phone. Um, but in that
058I want to also follow up on our conversations that we had about discipline uh within our schools as well and just let you know that I've had those conversations with Miss Whitman at at the high school and we've had conversations they're already doing it at the middle school uh where they're keeping their phones in their backpack. Um so I will say that that was Miss Widman's recommendation uh that they do the same at the high school. um she wanted to and I and she wanted to have a school improvement team meeting after they did that. Uh they felt like it would be a good idea to have a few times that students could check in um with with parents throughout the day. So, what that's going to look like right now is phones would be
059in the backpack um during class time and and they would come out during lunch that the students would have an opportunity on their free time that they could uh use uh potentially use their device there during lunch. Um and then um that allow them an opportunity to check in with mom and dad. Hey, we've got ball practice tonight. We don't have ball practice or you know, I'm doing this or that. So, all those communications. The other time uh that we talked about was was the last five minutes or so of the class in fourth period. Again, late bus, all the other reasons that you might need to communicate with a parent to a to a child. Um so that's where she landed on how they were going to uh how they felt like they could
060best monitor this. And I'll tell you, when she talked with the teachers about it, the teachers felt really good about where they were because they didn't like the idea of having to monitor to make sure you didn't have it in your pocket. So, they felt like having it in a backpack or stowed away in a purse or something like that helped the teachers. Um, and she, you know, the funny thing, she she took the time, um, even during the summer to go over to the ROC and have some conversations with the kids there. And I'll tell you, one of the kids said, "Uh, you're a new principal and they're already not going to like you, but boy, they're really not going to like you when you have to put the phones up." You know, he
061was real serious about it. But he but he but he but he also said something that was really important and I think it was important for our uh it's going to be important for our teachers to hear. And that was we're going to follow the rules, ma'am, is what he said. But if the teachers relax them, we're going to take advantage of it. And I thought, you know, out of the mouth of babes, right? That's a 16, 17 year old kid just telling you the truth. Um, so the expectation has got to be set. And I think Miss Miss Whitman did a good job of taking notes from the kids. She took notes and feedback from the uh staff. And she's taken notes and feedback from our board. So, we feel like that within her
062procedures in the student handbook, she'll be able to handle those so we can keep our policy uh very very um broad, if you will. And um that's why it reads the way it does. We talked about that in the policy committee um as to what some of the reasonings would be. And I took y'all's feedback from the policy committee back to Miss Whitman and that's when within the past week, those are all the things she's done to address that. I know Dr. line. We're gonna have to have some conversations about having some things consistent from school to school, but I feel like we're in we're headed in the right direction with that policy and we will be um getting this one in place before this beginning of school year starts, but the handbooks get printed
063now. So, we needed to go ahead and and kind of start getting ahead of some of this stuff just like this one as well as the athletics. Um, some of those things we we can make a change if y'all change your mind, but um, we want to go ahead and start putting some of these things together so our principles have all the ammunition that they need. Anything out, Miss? >> No, sir. No, sir. >> Board, do y'all have any questions? I know that was a lot. Could you uh explain the consequences of repeat offenders? I remember someone saying that the parents the phone would be taken and the parents would have to come retrieve the phone from the office. >> Yes, sir. Off the top of my head, I don't know exactly what that is,
064but the discipline matrix that you guys were given today. You should be able to find it within >> I think that might be >> Yeah. And and remember you guys had asked about a copy of that. We didn't send it electronically, but I just made you a physical copy of it. You should be able to see it. Mr. Baker's nodding. He saw it somewhere. >> Yeah. So, um, do we still have a pay phone in the next? >> I don't think I don't think so. I think that, you know, that's what we have and that might be a backup for some of them when they get their phones taken. >> Sure. >> What? >> You drove a >> Yes. The pay phone was still there when I was when I was in high school. I'll
065tell you, I was at basketball camp the other day and um I was at basketball camp the other day and uh one of the kids came up and and they said, "My phone got my phone got taken." I guess they gotten in trouble at home and uh they said, "Coach Franklin, can I borrow your phone?" And he just handed them his phone so they could make the call. I mean, that's really what ends up happening at this point. Or or they go to uh the the theuh office or wherever. We we really just hadn't run into that in a long time. I just like to say that this this is refreshing to me code student conduct and and I'm excited about the tightening up of what I think is going forth offense confiscates the device
066until the end of school day. >> Yeah. and all all the other things. I mean, >> the other night and I'm just passionate about our kids, >> we need discipline. Our kids need to feel safe. >> Other teachers tell me that carry through. Well, they've got a boss, too, you know, and they just don't think it's that big a deal. We We all And Commander Marsh, you don't you don't get to pick and choose the military, do you? If you're going to obey, you know, down up down the line from the top to the bottom, you either, you know, get in line or you're going to get >> you won't get just 50 push-ups. You're going to get something. And that's that's the way it ought to be. I mean, love our teachers, but everybody
067needs to get on board and I'm excited about it. Everybody will get on and we'll try to work hard at it. It won't be hard too hard on anybody. >> There's no other questions. Thank you. >> Thank you again to the policy committee. I appreciate you all. >> Miss Helms, thank you so very much. Well, thank you and thank you, Miss Dattle, for all you do to keep us streamlined and your your readers digest version is amazing. Thank you. >> Okay, the next item on the agendas, we're talking about our school board meeting time change and it's my understanding through a kind of a consensus of the board that we want to start 4:30 from here on out. And at this time, I'll entertain a motion to change our starting time from 6:00 to 4:30
068p.m. from here on out. I want to get a clarification. Okay. So, you want to keep it like we did today. >> Yeah, that was >> Okay, that's good. Start process 4:30. >> Yes, sir. Are you comfortable with the agenda? Are you comfortable with the agenda being done the way it was today where if we did not accomplish what we needed to do in close session? at 4:30 agenda item as we did today. I think we have to finish for those folks who came to ask them. say we have quite a bit of business to handle. Maybe one of those nights we skip right up till 6 o' >> and then we open the doors, everybody comes in and we end up having to go back in a closet better time. I think we accommodate
069everybody and we also accommodate the board most [Laughter] >> well if we don't get moving We're not going to make >> uh >> Let me let me uh Okay. Mrs. Helms, do you have any objection to what we just discussed? >> I do not. >> Mr. Subtles, are you online now? Okay. All right. So, I'll entertain the motion to keep it as is. We start our close session at 4:30 and our regular meeting at 6 just like we did tonight. So, anybody uh I'm a lot sharper. >> Second. I >> Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Abernathy, a second by Mr. Barksdale about the changing of the meeting time, which in reality is not the meeting time, but the close session part of it. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor signify
070by raising your right hand. And Miss Helms, how are you? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, that's an eight. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And board reports. Mr. Shuttles isn't here. Mr. Barksdale Buildings Grounds. Do you have anything? >> Yes, I have something real brief. Um maybe have to take a little bit of I think this would fall under me. Uh had several individuals in the community, especially in my neighborhood and several that live around there that asked if there was any way possible for us to reopen the track at East. Um and I told them I would mention it. I don't know if it could be a timeframe thing and then have I know that if you use the community building for example, uh it could you could open it up after school and then
071uh the police department can go by and lock it back up after a certain period of time. If y'all could just look at that. I told them I was not sure, but I do know that the problems we were having really diminished in that area. >> Yes, sir. And I think uh I will tell you that Mr. has reached out to Mr. Marsh and I about this exact same topic and um we're supposed to have lunch on Wednesday to have some conversation about it. Um he definitely feels like it's something that needs to be supervised just because we still have to be cautious with the issues that we've had there at East. Um but that was something that was that he was considering how he might do that. So no promises on anything just yet,
072but know that they're working on that. Thank you. That's all. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Schuford, anything financing you've had your hands full of tonight. >> Miss Helms, likewise, you've had your hands full, too. Is there anything you have? >> No, I think Miss Adam did a good job presenting what we had talked about. >> Mr. Schuford, anything from head >> nc? Mr. Baker and Mr. McGinness. >> Well, we know we got the leadership lab coming up or the leadership camps coming up. I believe it starts next week. Um, and that'll be a week long playing out in Kbud Shield and then, uh, they've got like just all kinds of things around the calendar. But, uh, that's the big thing going on right now. >> Bud shield next week. >> I believe it starts on the
07321st. >> But, um, I'll put that in the anything. >> He said, "Could he Sergeant Major said uh first first sergeant said that it would be better if you came down probably Wednesday, Thursday, some you know they they were getting their ducks in a row and everything and working out Monday and Tuesday and it would be better and some of us planning on going down." Okay, >> I'll put that in the weekly review and certainly offer to drive down there too and we can meet here and ride down if folks wanted to go. Um, I I apologize for not knowing the date right off the top of my head tonight. We'll get it to you. >> Yes, sir. >> Anything further from the board on the board reports? Okay, we'll move on to item number
07412, approval of the consent agenda. And I want to remind you that any item may be pulled from the consent agenda with majority vote at the board and discussed and voted on as a separate item. I'm not going to pull this from the agenda, but I do would like a confirmation from Mr. Marsh and Miss Rampy on child nutrition vendor contracts. Uh we uh normally have it's it comes in uh several years, the contract does and and we're just continuing on with the old one. So there's no raises or anything and and you both agree that we we need to go along with this. Is that correct? Okay board, I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as printed. Unless anybody wants one, I'll make >> you have a second. >> Okay, we have
075a motion by Mr. Allison and a second by Mr. Baker. Is there any further discussion on the approval of consent agenda? >> All those in favor signify by raising your right hand. And Miss HS >> I. >> Okay. That's a vote. >> Okay. And we don't need a continuation of the closed session, but we do need action on close session items. I'll entertain a motion to approve personnel considerations certified, non-certified, and superintendent contract. Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Shuford to uh accept personnel considerations and uh the three items that we discussed. Second by Mr. Abernathy. >> Is that correct? >> Okay. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor signify by raising your right hand. And what about Miss HS? >> Yes. >> Okay. That's an eight vote. All right. And announcements.
076Board of Education regular session meeting August 11th. No work session. Correct, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> Great. Okay. Anybody have anything? I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. >> Make a motion. >> Okay. We have a motion by Mr. Abernathy, a second by Mr. Baker to adjourn. All those in favor signify by raising your right hand. Miss H, you with us? >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. at 7:23. >> Have a great time, Miss Ham. >> Well, thank you. >> Be careful.